End labeling mechanism



om, s, 1946. E. E. Pom.

END LABELING MEGHANISMy Filed Jan. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lill INWM m 6 4. www m 51 u* Y m mi VM m *Y ,my 4 Mm? Y m. llr U {Prin/mvv .--mm1 o ML c. 3, 1946. E, E, pol-" 2,409,065

` END LABELING MEGHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y BY from? Oct. 8, 1946.

E. E. POHL END LABELING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 6'] f7 f4 I fg y J0 v A L2;

INVENTOR. Q1 kA/E57' EPs/72 BY Y Traa/KEY Patented Oct 8, 1946 END LABELING MECHAN ISM Ernest E. Pohl, Elmhurst, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 24, 1945, Serial No. 574,380

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for applying labels to the ends of packages, more particularly to improvements in the construction of the knives or cutters thereof which coact to sever a label from a web of label material.

In one type of labeling mechanism illustrated in the Weida Patent 2,349,317, issued May 23, 1944, the labels were severed from the web by the coaction of a stationary vertical knife provided with a cutting edge on its lower end and a horizental knife swinging about a vertical axis. Due to the presence of the thermoplastic coating provided on the web to obtain adhesion of the severed labels to the end folds of the packages, thermoplastic material gradually accumulated adjacent the cutting edge of the vertical knife to an extent suicient to interfere with the feeding of the web downwardly between the cutting edges of the knives.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a novel mounting for the stationary knife which will permit it to be readily detached for cleaning any accumulations cf thermoplastic material picked up from the web, or for sharpening. F01` this purpose the stationary knife maybe provided with spaced pieces having half round holes which t on a stationary rod and one corner of the stationary knife rests on one face of the movable knife. The movable knife may be carried by a member pivotally mounted on an adjusting screw carried by a swingable arm and urged by a torsion spring into engagement with the cutting edge of the stationary knife. By adjustment of the torsion spring the tension of the movable knife against the stationary knife may be regulated, so that the severing of the web of label material will be performed properly. Moreover some torsion springs may be weaker than others and adjustment of the torsion spring can be made to assure the proper cutting of the label. Upon depressing the movable knife, the stationary knife may be removed or replaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for depressing the lower knife to permit removal or installation of the stationary knife.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and 'in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an improved label-cutting mechanism exemplifying my invention, the

feed roll shown in Figs. 3 5 being omitted and the lower knife being shown in retracted position;

cutting position;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the label-cutting mechanism viewed from line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the same viewed from line 5.--5 in Fig. l; v

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections of the labelcutting mechanism taken on the lines 5 5 and S-S of Fig. 1, the label applier head being omitted in Fig. 5; Y

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 6, the. lower knife being shown in depressed position in Fig. 7 and in its cutting position in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, it should be understood that two labeling mechanisms are placed opposite each other on the sides 'of a wrapping machine in positions adjacent the ends of packages delivered from the folders of the wrapping machine.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a bracket I0 is secured to one of the adjustable side fra-mes l2 of the wrapping machine. On the lower end of a shaft i4 projecting downwardly from the bracket lll is pivoted an applier arm i5 which is operated by a connecting rod i6 from a cam lever (not shown). Since the construction of the cam lever and cam for operating rod I is illustrated in the Weida Patent 2,349,317, further description thereof is deemedl unnecessary. On arm l5 is secured a platen or label applier head i8 which'is provided with an electrical heating element (not shown). The platen4 i8 is thus heated to cause adhesion of the thermoplastic coating of the label to the wrapper folds of the package.

On the lower end of a vertical stud` 2li pivotally mounted in the bracket li) is fastened an arm 2l. A tension spring 22, which is connected at one end tc arm 2l and anchored at its other end on a bracket 2li, which is similar to the bracket 5G shown in the above'- mentioned Weida patent andv similarlyV projects from a housing (not shown), urges arm 2l against a stop screw 2E threadedl in a nut 28 secured to frame I2. A cam roller 29 on a post 39 of arm l5 engages a vertical face on arm 2l andserves to displace arm 2l to the position shown in Fig. 1 when arm l5 is retracted with platen I8 by the connecting rod I6.

In a lug 3l formed on the upper face of arm 2l is threaded a screw 32 which is secured therein by a set screw 33. On screw 32 is. pivotally sup- Fig 2 is a similar view showing the knife inl ported a bifurcated plate 34 to which is fastened the lower knife 3S. One end of a torsion spring 49, which is secured at one end in the head of screw 32, underlies and urges knife 36 upwardly against the cutting edge of a stationary knife 42, as shown in Fig. 5. Upon unloosening the set screw 33 and turning the screw 32 the tension of the knife 35 against knife 42 may be regulated,

The knife 42 has secured to its outer face a pair of spaced pieces 44 which are provided with half round holes which fit over a rod 43 carried by the brackets I3 and 24. A 'stationary guide plate 43 is secured to the brackets IQ and 24 by screws 50, and the heads of screws 50 serve as stops for the knife 42 when it is swung inwardly to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, A lever 52, which is fulcrumed on the upper end of the stud 20, has a tip which engages a lip 53 on knife 42 and thereby maintains the same in its operative position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Lever E2 is retained on stud 20 by a washer 55 and a lock nut 56. On the hub of the lever 52 is formed a depressed section 51 which engages the upper end of a cam piece 59 when lever 52 is manually turned into the proper position. Cam piece 59 is provided with elongated slots SI and slidably mounted on screws 63 passing through these slots and threaded into bracket I9. When the section 51 of lever 52 iS brought into engagement with the upper end of cam piece 59 the latter is depressed sufl'lciently to swing the knife 3S downwardly to the position shown in Fig. '1 and the tip of lever 52 is disengaged from lip 53. Knife 42 will then be free to swing outwardly to the position. shown in Fig. '1, and the pieces 44 thereof may be removed from rod 46to permit the knife to be cleaned orsharpened. Then, when a new knife 42 is to be installed, the half round holes of the .pieces 44 thereof are positioned on the rod 46 and the lever 52 is turned to disengage section 51 thereof from cam piece 59. This movement of lever 52 causes its tip to engage and Swing the knife 42 about rod 46 to a position where its lower edge overlies the knife 35 while the cam piece 59 is being released from the section 53 of lever 52. Thus the knife 35 will be free` to swing upwardly against the cutting edge of knife 42 and will be maintained by the latter in operative position.

Knife 36 is normally in its cutting position shown in Fig. 2 except when it is retracted to permit the web of label material to be fed between the knives 3B and 42 for severance of a label. When the knife 36 is in its cutting position it underlies the cutting edge of knife 42 and is maintained by the same in its operative position. When the knife 36 is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 1, one corner thereof remains in a position underlying the adjoining portion of the cutting edge of knife 42 and thereby maintains knife 36 in operative position.

The web of label material W is fed downwardly between knife 42 and plate 48, while knife 36 is retracted, by the feed roller loosely mounted on a stud 1I supported on bracket 24. If desired, the edges of web W may be provided with spaced cut-outs or indentations which engage raised portions 12 on roller 1I! as the web is fed by the roller. As previously mentioned, the bracket 244 is an extension of a housing (not shown) and the housing is fastened to frame I2. Since the construction of the Vhousing and bracket 24 is fully disclosed in the above mentioned Weida Patent 2,349,317, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. However it may be noted that a gear 13, which is secured to feed roller 15 and loosely mounted on stud 1I, is driven by a gear (not shown) corresponding to the gear 41 of said W eida Patent 2,349,317 which is driven by mechanism disclosed in said patent.

The packages P, after the rear end folds, top endfolds, and frontend folds of their wrappers have been folded over the endsof the loaf of bread or other article by folders (not shown) are advanced past a pair of heated sealer plates 14 arranged to engage and heat seal the overlapped end folds of the wrapper of the advancing packages. Each of the sealer plates 14 has a diagonal edge 15 spaced from the edge of a folder plate 1B to provide a slot into which the bottom end fold of the wrapper enters and is folded upwardly against the previously folded end folds. Waxed paper is commonly used for the wrapping material and when the overlapped end folds are advanced past plates 'E4 they are heated sufficiently to make the wax coating on their outer faces tacky. The sealer plate 14 is supported by a stud 11 (Fig. 3) carried by a lug on frame I2 and threaded into a boss on plate 14, and other similar studs (not shown). Folder plate 1G is similarly7 supported from frame I2. A bottom plate 19 supports the advancing packages. Each of the sealer plates 14 is equipped with an upwardly extending guide tongue 18 similar to the tongue 81 of the Weida patent and similarly fastened at its lower edge to plate 14 and forming therewith a pocket adapted to receive the label severed from web W and. hold it in position to be applied to the tacky end folds of the wrappers ofthe packages P. The bottom of the pocket is formed by a step on an extension 82 of the sealer plate V14. The web W while it is fed downwardly over the roll 15 is guided by a concave guide piece 84'whose hub is fastened on the rod 46 by a wing screw 85, and enters the pocket formed by sealer plate 1li, step 8D and tongue 18. The feeding cf the web W is stopped when the middle of the indentations in the edges of the web is aligned with the cutting edge of knife 36, the latter having been previously withdrawn by the cam roller 29 on applier arm I5 during the retraction of the applier head I8 to the position shown in Fig. 1, by the connecting rod I5. When the connecting rod I5 moves the applier arm I5 forwardly the knife 3G coacts with knife 42 to sever a label from web W and the applier head I8 presses the leading edge of the label against the tacky end folds of an advancing package P. Thus the thermoplastic coating along the inner face of the leading edge of the severed label adheres to the tacky thermoplastic coating of the overlapped end folds of the wrapper on package P. The remainder of the label is caused to adhere to the tackyend folds by the pressure of the applier head while the package P continues advancing. The bottom plate 19 supports the packages while they are advanced past the plate 14 and the applier head I8. After leaving the applier head I8 the labeled package ends engage with heated side guide plates 88 which serve to bond the thermoplastic coating on the inner faces of the labels to the tacky end folds of the package.

What is claimed is:

1. In a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with means for supporting a knife in a stationary position, said stationary knife having a cutting edge, of a support pivotally mounted for swinging movement to and fro, a knife supporting member pivotally mounted on said support, a movable knife secured to saidv member and having a cutting edge adapted to coact with the cutting edge of said stationary knife to sever a length of material from a web of material positioned between the cutting edges of said knives, and a spring urging said movable knifetoward the cutting edge of said stationary knife to maintain one portion of said movable knife against the cutting edge of the stationary knife, the remainder of said movable knife being spaced sufficiently from the stationary knife to permit a web of material to be inserted between the outting edges of the knives, said support being movable toward the stationary knife to move the cutting edge of the movable knife across the cutting edge of the stationary knife and thereby sever a length of material from said web, said stationary knife being detachable from said means, and a device for moving said movable knife away from said stationary knife to facilitate removal of the stationary knife from said means.

` 2. ln a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with a stationary support, of a stationary knife provided with a cutting edge, said stationary knife also being provided with members which are pivotally mounted on said stationary support, arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement to and fro, a knife supporting member pivotally mounted on said arm, a movable knife secured to said member and having a cutting e .ge adapted to coaot with the cutting edge of said stationary knife to sever a length of inaterial from a web of material positioned between the cutting edges of said knives, said stationary knife being pivotally movable upon said stationary support to a position wherein its cutting edge overlies one corner of said movable knife, and a spring urging said movable knife toward the stationary knife to maintain the corner of the movable knife underlying the stationary knife against the cutting edge of the stationary knife, the remainder of the movable knife being spaced sufficiently from the stationary knife topermit a web of material to be inserted between the cutting edges of the knives, said arm being movable toward the stationary knife to move the cutting edge of the l wer knife across the cutting edge of the upper knife and thereby sever a length of material from said web.

3. In a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with a stationary support, of a stationary knife provided with a cutting edge, said stationary knife also being provided with members which are pivotally mounted on said stationary support, an arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement to and fro, a knife supporting member pivotally mounted on said arm, a movable knife secured to said member and having a cutting edge adapted to coact with the cutting edge of said stationary knife to sever a length of material from a web of material positioned between the cutting edges of said knives, said stationary knife being pivotally movable upon said stationary support to a position wherein its cutting edge overlies one corner of said movable knife, and a spring urging said movable knife toward the stationary knife to maintain the corner of the movable knife underlying the stationary knife against the cutting edge of the stationary knife, the remainder of the movable knife being spaced sufficiently from the stationary knife to permit a web of material to be inserted between the cutting edges of the knives, said arm being movable toward the stationary knife to move the cutting edge of the lower knife across the cutting edge of the upper knife and thereby sever a length of material from said web, and a device for moving said movable knife away from the stationary knife to permit the stationary knife to be removed by swin-ging said members outwardly on said stationary support.

4. lin a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with a stationary support, of a stationary knife provided with a cutting edge, said stationary knife also being provided with members which are pivotally mounted on said stationary support, an arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement 4to and fro, a knife supporting member pivotally mounted on said arm, a movable knife secured to said member and having a cutting edge f adapted to coact with the cuttingedge of said stationary knife to sever a length of material from a web of material positioned between the cutting edges of said knives, said stationary knife being pivotally movable upon said stationary support to a position wherein its cutting edge overlies one corner of said movable knife, and a spring urging -said movable knife toward the stationary knife to maintain the corner of the movable knife underlying the stationary knife against the cutting edge of the stationary knife, the remainder of `the movable knife being spaced sufficiently from the stationary knife to permit a web of material to be inserted between the cutting edges of the knives, said arm being-movable toward the stationary knife to move the cutting edge of the lower knife across the cutting edge of the upper knife and thereby sever a length of material from said web, anda device for moving said movable knife away from .the stationary knife to permit the stationary knife to be removed by swinging said members outwardly on said stationary support, said device including a slidable cam piece engaging the one face of said movable knife, and a manually operable lever adapted to engage and move said cam piece toward said movable knife to disengage the movable knife from the stationary knife.

5. In a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with a stationary knife having a cutting edge on its lower edge, an arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis to and fro in a horizontal direction, a knife supporting member pivotally mounted on said arm for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a movable knife secured to said member and having a cutting edge adapted to coact with the cutting edge of said stationary knife to sever a length of material from a web of material, the cutting edge of said stationary knife overlying one corner of the movable knife, and a spring urging said movable knife upwardly to maintain the corner thereof underlying the stationary knife against the cutting edge of the upper knife, the remainder of the movable knife being spaced sufficiently from the stationary knife to permit a web of material to be inserted between the cutting edges of the knives, said arm being movable toward the stationary knife to move the cutting edge of the movable knife across the cutting edge of the stationary knife and thereby sever a length of material from said web.

6. In a web-cutting mechanism, the combina-V- tion with a stationary knife having a cutting edge, an arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement to and fro, a horizontal adjusting screw threaded into said arm, a knife supporting member pivotally mounted on said adjusting screw, a movable knife secured to said member in a position wherein one of its corners underlies the cutting edge of the stationary knife, and a torsion spring anchored at one end in said screw and having its other end underlying said movable knife to urge the same upwardly against said stationary knife, whereby said adjusting screw may be turned to regulate the tension of said movable knife against the stationary knife.

7. In a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with a stationary rod, of a stationary knife provided with a cutting edge and having grooved members on one of its faces adapted to be positioned on said rod, stops positioned to engage the other face of said knife, a device adapted to engage said other face of said stationary knife and swing said stationary knife about said rod to an operative position against said stops, and a movable knife having a cutting edge adapted to coact with the cutting edge of said stationary knife t0 shear a length of material from a web of material positioned between the cutting edges of said knives.

8. In a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with a stationary knife arranged in an approximately vertical position and having a cutting edge along its lower edge, of means connected to the upper edge of said vertical knife for pivotally supporting the same, an abutment arranged to engage one face of said vertical knife, a manually operable device adapted to engage the upper edgeof said vertical knife and maintain said knife in operative position against said abutment, and a movable horizontal knife having a cutting edge coacting with the cutting edge of said vertical knife to shear a length of material from a web of material positioned between the cutting edges of said knives.

9. In a web-cutting mechanism, the combination with a stationary knife having a cutting edge, of means connected to said stationary knife for pivotally supporting the same, an abutment arranged to engage one face of said stationary knife, a manually operable device adapted to engage said stationary knife and maintain said knife in operative position against said abutment, a movable knife having a cutting edge coacting with the cutting edge of said stationary knife to shear a length of material from a web of material positioned between the cutting edges of said knives, a movable support on which said movable knife is mounted, a spring urging said movale support toward said stationary knl'fe to maintain a portion of said movable knife against the cutting edge of said stationary knife, and a member adapted to be displaced by said device into engagement with said support, when said device is manually operated to release said stationary knife, to move said support and movable knife away from said stationary knife and thereby facilitate removal of said stationary knife.

ERNEST E. POI-1L. 

